It is heartening indeed to learn that assurance of continuing government’s all-out support for the country’s weaving industry has been given. In fact, the weaving industry in the country is in moribund condition as a large number of people across the country have abandoned the profession of weaving and mothballed production as it does not fetch them enough dividend to meet the cost. The glory of our weaving industry once occupied the global market with its finest products; but the shine was taken off by the abject neglect to which it was relegated for ages. This has been a timely reminder to us for reviving our glorious heritage of weaving industry when products of other countries glut the foreign market. In the circumstances, the modernising and enriching the country’s weaving industry cannot wait any longer. We cannot but appreciate the prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s concern about the industry. She said in last month that her government is always ready to extend all-out cooperation for the development and expansion of the weaving industry. But the distribution of Taka 49,26,000 only among some 142 weavers is too meagre to save the industry. We pin our hopes on her sincere intention to revive the glory of weaving industry as she said a project was taken with Tk 41.44 crore to set up a fashion design and a textile institute and a basic centre. We hope, higher allocation will be made in the budget for the expansion of the industry. The successors of the weaving industry should be given a fillip to carry on their rich tradition. We are proud to have the patent of Jamdani and now we will have to further develop it and publicise it worldwide as publicity means expansion. All persons related to this industry have to ensure better marketing for our weaved clothes. If all persons give the due attention, our silk, benarasi and cotton sarees are sure to capture world market. For this there is a need for improving the training of the weavers. We also should put on clothes made by country’s weavers. The clothes made from ‘Khaddar’ woven locally are really comfortable to wear and suitable to our weather. We must not neglect our home-grown cloth when it is glorified all the world over. We want that our traditional weaving clothes such as Jamdani, Khaddar etc. get back again their lost glory and for that setting up of separate ‘Jamdani village’, ‘Banarasi village’ and ‘Weaving village’ at different places of the country should be expedited.
